When the air raid sirens sounded at approximately 7pm, there was no panic as the sirens had been heard plenty of times before, but just a few minutes later the first German planes were heard and seen moving across the clear sky, lit up by the moon.
What followed was devastation in the city centre and across Sheffield with many buildings destroyed.
The biggest tragedy of the night occurred just before midnight when the Marples Hotel received a direct hit.
Only seven people were brought out alive; a number of victims were never recovered.
These photos from our archive take a look back at the night of the blitz and the wartime spirit that prevailed in the immediate aftermath.
13. W T Flather
Soldiers help with the clear up of the blitz damage at W T Flather Ltd., Sheffield Photo: Copied By Sheffield Newspapers
14. Searching the rubble
Blitz scenes and homeless familes searching through the rubble of their houses in Scott Road and Grimesthorpe Road, Sheffield, in December 1940 Photo: Sheffield Newspapers
16. Nether Edge
Houses in Archibald Road, Nether Edge, after the blitz on December 12, 1940 Photo: Vic Brough